In a recent social media post, former President Donald Trump made a claim regarding the level of violent crime in Manhattan, stating that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has allowed violent crime to flourish at unprecedented levels. However, this claim is factually incorrect.
Contrary to Trump's assertion, Manhattan, along with New York City as a whole, is not experiencing record levels of violent crime. In fact, violent crime rates in both the borough and the city have significantly decreased since the early 1990s.
For instance, in 1990, Manhattan reported 503 murders, which was the highest on record. Fast forward to 2023, and the number of murders in Manhattan has dropped to 73, marking an 85% decline. Similarly, the number of reported rapes in Manhattan in 2023 was 252, a substantial decrease of about 63% from the 689 reported in 1990.
These statistics clearly indicate that Manhattan has made significant progress in reducing violent crime over the past few decades. It is essential to rely on accurate data and historical context when evaluating claims about crime rates to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
